Mumbai U19 panel chairman Rajesh Pawar to play T20 Mumbai League

March 4, 2018

Image Credit - Mid-Day

Former Mumbai left-arm spinner, and the chairman of the Mumbai U19 selection committee, Rajesh Pawar, will play in the T20 Mumbai League, which is scheduled to start from March 11, 2018. The 38-year-old was bought for INR 80,000 by the Mumbai North team at auction of Mumbai’s local T20 league, conducted by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) at a city hotel.

A total of six teams are will play in the T20 Mumbai League will play from 11 March to 21 March, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Rajesh Pawar, the forgotten Indian cricketer

As reported by Mid-Day, Rajesh Pawar, who played the Kanga League for Parkophene Cricketers last season said that it was a great opportunity for the selector to return to domestic cricket. He said,

“It will be a good opportunity for me. Though I am a selector, MCA has allowed me to play the T20 League.”

A little over 20 years back in Mumbai, the now obscure Rajesh Pawar had impressed the Australia cricket team and the Indian cricketing pundits when he had bowled to Mark Taylor-led Australian team at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, claiming three wickets for 59 runs in Australia’s innings.

Team India stars in T20 Mumbai League

The second-highest paid cricketer from the icon players category was Rohit Sharma, who is set to captain India in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy T20I tri-series in Sri Lanka. The ‘Hitman’ as we know Rohit Sharma, was bought by the Mumbai North West team for INR 6 lakh.

Indian young gun Shreyas Iyer, who was recently seen playing in the national colours against South Africa, was bought for INR 5 lakh by Mumbai North Central.

Indian cricketing veteran Abhishek Nayar and Mumbai’s in-form batsman Siddhesh Lad were picked for INR 4 lakh as icon players of Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central respectively.

Mumbai pacers, Shardul Thakur and Dhawal Kulkarni were in the icon category, but were unsold. However, Kulkarni was picked up by Mumbai North East later for Rs 1.50 lakh. India’s U-19 World Cup winning Prithvi Shaw who will represent Rest of India against Ranji Trophy winners Vidarbha from March 14 to 18, was picked by Mumbai North for Rs 2.80 lakh.

Ajinkya Rahane and Suryakumar Yadav will lead Mumbai North and Mumbai North East respectively.